The central Kazan Synagogue dedicated a new ark (Aron Kodesh) which houses the Torah scrolls. An impressive number of community members and guests came to the synagogue for the ceremony to dedicate the ark.
Among the guests attending the dedication ceremony were Chief Rabbi of Tatarstan Yitzhak Gorelik, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin and Rabbi Yitzhak Kogan from the Moscow Synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya.
At the end of the ceremony, the Torah scrolls were transferred from the old ark to the new one, at which time every member of the community had the opportunity to touch the holy Torah scrolls.
It is very rare in Russia for a new ark to be dedicated. It is significant that this event took place in Kazan, a city that many consider to be a major center of religious tolerance.